JetBlue fined $2 million by feds for “chronic flight delays”
The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday announced a $2 million fine against JetBlue Airways for “operating multiple long-delayed flights,” the first time the federal agency has imposed such a penalty.
Airlines are prohibited from providing unrealistic schedules that don’t reflect actual flight departure and arrival times, but a Department of Transportation investigation found that JetBlue operated four long delays between June 2022 and November 2023 of flights, at least 145 flights.
Each flight was chronically delayed for five months or more. Despite a Department of Transportation warning to JetBlue about inaccurate departure and arrival times for flights between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, the airline continues to operate Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, as well as JFK Three repeatedly delayed flights between international airports; between Fort Lauderdale and Windsor Locks, Conn., the agency said.
The department found that the four long-delayed flights had a combined total of 395 delays and cancellations.
The agency is investigating other airlines for unrealistic flight schedules that do not reflect actual departure and arrival times. If a flight is flown at least 10 times a month and is late by more than 30 minutes more than 50% of the time, the flight is considered chronically delayed, with cancellations also counted as delays.
An investigation by the agency found that the airline was responsible for more than 70% of long-delayed flights.
The airline must pay half of the cash penalty to the U.S. Treasury Department, and another $1 million will be used to compensate JetBlue passengers harmed by flight delays or any future disruptions caused by JetBlue. Future compensation must be at least $75 for each affected passenger.
“Unlawful long flight delays make flying unreliable for travelers,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “Today’s action puts the entire airline industry on notice, and we hope their flight schedules reflect that.” reality.” “The Department will enforce the law against airlines that engage in chronic delays or other unrealistic scheduling practices to protect healthy competition in commercial aviation and ensure that passengers are treated fairly.”
JetBlue said it has invested tens of millions of dollars over the past two years to reduce flight delays and saw significant improvements in 2024.
“While we have reached settlements regarding the four flights in 2022 and 2023, we believe the responsibility for reliable air travel equally lies with the U.S. government that operates our nation’s air traffic control system,” a spokesperson said.
